Southern Company appoints Chris Womack as president and CEO
Chris Womack has been named the new president and CEO of the Southern Company, and he was elected as a member of the company’s board of directors.
Womack will take over as CEO following the company’s 2023 annual meeting of shareholders and assume the role of president as of March 31.
Womack will succeed current chairman, CEO and president Thomas Fanning. Fanning, 65, will assume the role of executive chairman of the board of directors upon Womack’s assumption of the role of CEO.
“Tom has guided Southern Company through a period of significant change. Under his oversight, Southern Company has delivered substantial value to stockholders and increased the dividend annually while safeguarding the interests of employees, the communities in which the system operates, and the entire spectrum of the company’s stakeholders. We are grateful for Tom’s innumerable contributions to the company and industry over more than 42 years of service, and we look forward to the next chapter in Southern Company’s history,” David Grain, Southern Company’s lead independent director, said.
Womack, 64, has served as president of Georgia Power since 2020 and as chairman, president and CEO since 2021. Before that, he served as executive vice president and president of external affairs for Southern Company. Womack has worked for the Southern Company since 1988, holding several leadership positions within the company.
Prior to joining Southern Company, Womack worked on Capitol Hill for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, DC, as a legislative aide for former Congressman Leon Panetta and as staff director for the Subcommittee on Personnel and Police for the Committee on House Administration. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree from The American University. He completed the Stanford Executive Program in 2001.
“Chris’ leadership, vision, and integrity during his career with Southern Company have uniquely prepared him to guide Southern Company into a new era,” Fanning said. “With our recent progress at Plant Vogtle and continued conversion of our operations towards net zero emissions, I believe that now is an ideal time to transition to new leadership. I have confidence that Chris will continue our progress and deliver on Southern Company’s commitment to providing clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy and customized solutions to customers across the United States. I look forward to working closely with Chris over the next five months as he assumes this new role and to focusing on an effective transition in my new position as executive chairman of the board of directors.”
Grain said the board has been actively engaged in succession planning for the past several years. After considering several candidates, Womack was unanimously selected by the board.
“It is an important time in our industry as the energy landscape continues to rapidly evolve and customers’ needs continue to change, and Southern Company is at the forefront of that evolution,” Womack said. “We’re building the future of energy, and I’m excited to continue playing a role in this new capacity. It is an honor to lead teams working in states across the country that are wholeheartedly dedicated to innovating and delivering both world-class customer service and reliability to our customers. We’ve got a lot of important work ahead of us.”
Additionally, effective March 31, Kimberly Greene, 56, will become chair, CEO and president of Georgia Power, while Jeff Peoples, 63, has been named chair, CEO and president of Alabama Power.
In addition, James Kerr II, 58, has been named chair, CEO and president of Southern Company Gas, while Peter Sena III, 59, has been named president of Southern Nuclear and remains as chief nuclear officer. Stephen Kuczynski will remain chairman and CEO of Southern Nuclear.
